Q. My brokerage money-market funds yield about 1 percent. Online money-market deposit accounts seem to pay higher rates. Should I move my cash?
David Bixby, Delmar, N.Y.

Money-market funds and money-market deposit accounts may seem like identical twins, but they re more like distant cousins. Money-market funds, typically offered through investment companies, are a conservative type of mutual fund that invests in highly liquid assets, like short-term CDs and Treasury bills. Currently, those investments don t yield much: The average taxable money-market fund has a compound yield of just 0.19 percent, according to iMoneyNet.com.

Money-market deposit accounts, found at banks, earn interest and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Banks looking to raise retail deposits often offer higher rates, says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate .com. Today s most competitive banks have rates of 2.3 percent. (For a list, visit Bankrate.com.)

Bottom line? Neither account will make you rich, but higher yields plus FDIC protection give money-market accounts an advantage. Still, if you re planning to make a quick jump back into the stock market, a money-market fund is significantly more nimble.

Q. My unemployment benefits will run out in five months. If I take a temp job for two months, can I reregister for unemployment after that ends?
Jodi Vallance, Irvine, Calif.

President Obama s stimulus plan contained incentives for states to expand benefits for part-time and temp workers, but ultimately, the rules are still governed by each state. And deciphering the details of unemployment benefits is practically a full-time job. But here goes: Duration is typically 26 weeks, but because of the recession, extensions have been granted. The 35 states with unemployment above 6 percent (including California) offer an additional 33 weeks. Other states offer up to 46 weeks.

So how does part-time or temp work fit into the mix? Part-time work reduces your benefit. In California, the first 25 percent of your part-time or temp pay is ignored, but the remaining amount is docked from your unemployment check. Full-time temp work would stop your unemployment benefits, although you can reopen the claim once the job is done. If your one-year period has passed, you can reapply for benefits, although the benefit amount will likely be different, since it s based in part on your last five quarters of work, explains Rich Hobbie, executive director of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, which oversees state unemployment programs. So visit your state government s Web site to keep abreast of any changes.

Q. I own about 30 stocks. My broker wants me to sell everything and buy about a dozen ETFs. I don t really understand ETFs. Are they a good idea?
Roger Nichols, Virginia Beach, Va.

Exchange-traded funds are a sort of stock/index mutual fund hybrid. Like a mutual fund, they re baskets of securities, offering easy diversification. On the flip side, they trade as a unit like a stock, so they can be traded throughout the day (mutual funds are priced just once a day). Exchange-traded funds are praised for their low expense ratios, although shares are purchased through a broker, which means commissions.

Does switching make sense? You ll certainly get more diversification through an ETF. You ll also need to consider the tax consequences of selling 30 stocks. In other words, make sure that the move is right for you not just your broker.